Gratitude means trusting Allah through hardship
“Gratitude is not our dua being answered in the way that we want.”
True Islamic gratitude is recognizing Allah as the source of every blessing, trusting His wisdom through hardship, and appreciating faith, people, and community.
The khutbah in 6 steps
- Reframes Thanksgiving gratitude as celebrating Allah, the source of blessings, rather than possessions.
- Tells the story of Abdullah ibn Muhammad and a severely disabled man who continually thanks Allah.
- Contrasts entitlement with gratitude for existence, the tongue, and whatever blessings remain.
- Shows that grief and gratitude can coexist through examples of illness, loss, and bereavement.
- Explains that loving people means guiding them toward prayer, Quran, and Allah.
- Concludes by urging gratitude for Islam, loved ones, the mosque, and community while praying for oppressed Muslims.
In the khateeb's words
“Western gratitude dare I say, consumer and capitalistic gratitude is an entirely different type of gratitude than the gratitude that we live as Muslims.”
“gratitude is not you being thankful that you and I are getting what we want gratitude is not our dua being answered in the way that we want”
“every loss is a celebration of what we have and every blessing that we have is a reminder of what we once had”
“if you love someone you love Allah for them if you love someone you love salah for them if you love someone you love the Quran and the masjid for them”
For the dinner table
Today's khutbah reminded us that gratitude means remembering Allah, who gives us our blessings, and appreciating His care. The khateeb shared the story of a man facing great hardship who still thanked Allah for his ability to speak and remember Him. He explained that being grateful does not mean pretending we are not sad or that we do not need help. The man's appreciation for his son's help with prayer reminded us to support the faith of those we love. We were encouraged to treasure Islam, the people in our lives, and our masjid community, and to notice blessings we sometimes overlook.
- What is one everyday blessing that helped you remember Allah today?
- How could we help each other make time for prayer this week?
- Who are you thankful for, and how could you show them your appreciation?
More on Gratitude
ICI · Irving, TX · Oct 24, 2026Thank Allah in ease and hardship“Even in moments of difficulty, when it feels like there's nothing going your way, there is always something to be grateful for.”
Either we're receiving a blessing, which calls for shukr, or we're going through a hardship, which calls for sabr.13:29Al-Ittehad · Vista, CA · Sep 19, 2026Gratitude and patience carry believers through life
Real gratitude is not a feeling.16:14London Muslim Mosque · London, ON · Sep 11, 2026Gratitude means using blessings well